Focusing on Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Mainland China, the contributors to this book analyze various cases of air pollution within East Asia. Air pollution in East Asia is a major health risk, which also has damaging impacts on the environment leading to impacts on society, economic growth, and welfare. While existing laws and policies have made progress in alleviating air pollution in each country in the region, the protection of favorable environments and the resolution of transboundary air pollution problems have become major targets of regional cooperation. Combining perspectives from social sciences and science, technology, and society studies, the contributors to this book examine both the technical and socioeconomic-political aspects of these challenges through a range of case studies from around the region. The book is a valuable read for researchers and policymakers looking at air pollution and transboundary governance challenges within and beyond East Asia.

Asian countries are among the largest contributors to climate change. China, India, Japan and South Korea are among the top ten largest carbon emitters in the world, with South Korea, Japan and Taiwan also some of the largest on a per capita basis. At the same time, many Asian countries, notably India, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand are among those most affected by climate change, in terms of economic losses attributed to climate-related disasters. Asia is an extremely diverse region, in terms of the political regimes of its constituent countries, and of their level of development and the nature of their civil societies. As such, its countries are producing a wide range of governance approaches to climate change. Covering the diversity of climate change governance in Asia, this book presents cosmopolitan governance from the perspective of urban and rural communities, local and central governments, state-society relations and international relations. In doing so it offers both a valuable overview of individual Asian countries' approaches to climate change governance, and a series of case studies for finding solutions to climate change challenges.

Asian countries are among the largest contributors to climate change. China, India, Japan and South Korea are among the top ten largest carbon emitters in the world, with South Korea, Japan and Taiwan also some of the largest on a per capita basis. At the same time, many Asian countries, notably India, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand are among those most affected by climate change, in terms of economic losses attributed to climate-related disasters. Asia is an extremely diverse region, in terms of the political regimes of its constituent countries, and of their level of development and the nature of their civil societies. As such, its countries are producing a wide range of governance approaches to climate change. Covering the diversity of climate change governance in Asia, this book presents cosmopolitan governance from the perspective of urban and rural communities, local and central governments, state-society relations and international relations. In doing so it offers both a valuable overview of individual Asian countries' approaches to climate change governance, and a series of case studies for finding solutions to climate change challenges.

Japan s post-World War II economic miracle is well-known and much discussed, as is the collapse of the bubble economy and the almost decade long economic stagnation of the 1990s. In this collection of essays and articles spanning two decades of intellectual work, Koichi Hasegawa one of Japan s foremost environmental sociologists reveals another dimension to the Japanese experience of the late 20th century, a developing civil society. Hasegawa s aim in this collection is manifold, beginning with an outline of the aims, objectives and distinguishing characteristics of environmental sociology. Combining a historical analysis of the rise of this new discipline with an overview of the theoretical frames that define it, Hasegawa argues that environmental sociology challenges the sociological conventions of disengaged observation as well as the anthropocentrism inherent to the sociological perspective. At the same time, environmental sociology challenges a powerful environmentalists perspective, stressing that environmental are not simply scientific or technical problems but are always and especially social problems. Environmentalism therefore needs a sociological perspective and sociology needs an environmental perspective if they are to address the most pressing problems facing human societies environmental destruction. In the process, Hasegawa indirectly provides a compelling answer to that seemingly interminable question, What do sociologists actually do about social problems Beginning with the foundations of environmental sociology and concluding with considerations of the experiences and future prospects of Japanese civil society, Constructing Civil Society in Japan will appeal to numerous audiences. It is an introductory textbook in environmental sociology as well as a guide to environmental activism. It is a unique introduction to civil society, combining European theories and Japanese case studies to reveal the obstacles and opportunities facing the Japanese citizenry. It critically addresses a range of sociological and political theories regarding citizen s activism and a range of activists strategies in order to illuminate obstacles and openings on the path ahead.

Japans post-World War II economic miracle is well-known and much discussed, as is the collapse of the bubble economy and the almost decade long economic stagnation of the 1990s. In this collection of essays and articles spanning two decades of intellectual work, Koichi Hasegawa one of Japans foremost environmental sociologists reveals another dimension to the Japanese experience of the late 20th century, a developing civil society. Hasegawas aim in this collection is manifold, beginning with an outline of the aims, objectives and distinguishing characteristics of environmental sociology. Combining a historical analysis of the rise of this new discipline with an overview of the theoretical frames that define it, Hasegawa argues that environmental sociology challenges the sociological conventions of disengaged observation as well as the anthropocentrism inherent to the sociological perspective. At the same time, environmental sociology challenges a powerful environmentalists